Wednesday’s Campaign Round-Up, 4.30.14

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that won’t necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:

* Though yesterday’s Washington Post/ABC News poll showed President Obama’s approval rating ticking down a few points, a new NBC News/Wall Street Journalpoll shows his support ticking up a few points. What’s the larger significance? There probably isn’t one.

* In Florida, a new Quinnipiac poll shows former Gov. Charlie Crist (D) with a surprisingly large lead over incumbent Gov. Rick Scott (R), 48% to 38%.

* Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D), in his capacity as chair of the Democratic Governors Association, highlighted what he sees as the top gubernatorial races in 2014: Maine, Florida, and Pennsylvania in the top tier, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan in the second. He did not mention Wendy Davis’ race in Texas, which Team Davis did not appreciate.

* Eventually, it seems Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s feelings will be hurt by all the Republican Senate candidates who refuse to say whether they’ll support him as party leader if elected.

* Now that the polls show Thom Tillis with a clear advantage over his primary rivals in North Carolina’s Republican Senate primary, Gov. Pat McCrory (R), who had remained neutral, is throwing his support to the state House Speaker. If Tillis clears 40% support in the primary, he’ll avoid a runoff.

* And in Oregon, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) is running for re-election, and he’s poised to get a boost from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who’ll make a joint appearance with him in Portland next month.